Readers' Choice Dining Guide: Vegetarian
Top 10 veggie places as voted by our readers
MetromixNovember 11, 2009
Green Dog Cafe
3543 Columbia Parkway -
Cincinnati
A new restaurant from Mary and Mark Swortwood, original owners of the Brown Dog and Tink's. All aspects of Green Dog Cafe takes environmental impacts into consideration, from products for building to recycling waste. The menu features local food including choices for vegans, vegetarians, and those who don't eat wheat or dairy. A few items from the menu: Green Dog BLT, grilled salmon wrap, homemade green dog vegetarian burger, rice bowls, corn salad, manchego fresca and tomato salsa. Ordering is at a counter, and there is no tipping!
Melt
4165 Hamilton Ave. -
Cincinnati
There aren't a lot of options for vegans and vegetarians here in Cincinnati (or should we say, Porkopolis?). But chances are that if you're a socially-conscious eater, you've already been to this place. If you haven't, you've got a new favorite -- Melt gets rave reviews from almost everyone who goes there. The atmosphere is colorful and relaxing, and the menu itself offers delicious, healthy fare. If meat is your thing, you can also eat it here, and with a lighter heart -- it's all antibiotic- and hormone-free and raised with a higher level of quality and consciousness. Melt's philosophy is to offer an alternative to corporate junk food by using whole, unprocessed ingredients whenever possible. If you're in a hurry, the grab-n-go fridge is always filled with packaged items (bonus--the packages are made from corn and completely compostable!). Plus, there are always homemade bakery items to satisfy your post-meal sweet tooth. Call 30-45 minutes ahead for carryout orders over 10. Call-ahead ordering for dine-in is also available.
Myra's Dionysus
121 Calhoun St. -
Cincinnati
Veg heads will find comfort in this eclectic and cozy vegetarian eatery in Clifton. There is dining area outside where smokers are permitted to light up away from others. Wine and imported beers are on the menu too. College students and liberal thinkers gather here for delicious faux BLT sandwiches and rare teas. Try the Thai pumpkin soup.
Cafe Mediterranean
7454 Beechmont Ave. - CincinnatiCatering in Turkish cuisine, this restaurant takes its Mediterranean atmosphere seriously. Specialty Greek and Turkish wine is available, as are sexy belly dancers from time to time. While it is Middle Eastern food, Turkish meals have specific differences that make it unique, like putting an emphasis on charred meat or putting simple sugars into baklava instead of honey. They also specialize in vegetarian dishes with a healthy focus of fruits, veggies and legumes. Turkish decorations, like beautiful carpets on the walls, set the atmosphere for your meal.
Through the Garden Restaurant
10738 Kenwood Road - CincinnatiThrough the Garden uses herbs and vegetables from its own garden to cook a wide array of dishes. This vegetarian-friendly restaurant offers delectable and fresh lunch and dinner entrees, including Ultimate Garden Stir-Fry, Garden Tilapia and Hawaiian Salmon. Through the Garden also has daily dinner specials under $15 and takes faxed lunch orders. Through the Garden also has a live band once a month on Fridays and a patio that overlooks a garden with a smoke free bar in the summer. They also have a daily happy hour from 3-6 p.m.
Abby's Pub and Grill
5753 Harrison Ave. - CincinnatiAbby's is a vegetarian-friendly place to catch the game, eat a meal and have a drink at the full bar. The food ranges from sandwiches to chicken wings. There is outdoor seating for those days that the weather is beautiful. It's a neighborhood favorite and definitely worth the visit.
Take the Cake
4035 Hamilton Ave. -
Cincinnati
Take the Cake is a Northside bakery that moved into a new, bigger space so they can offer more lunch and Sunday brunch to the neighborhood. Stop by and enjoy a unique lunching experience - the menu is usually decided on the spot and you can dine at one of the two large, communal tables or enjoy a bite on the cozy couch. They bake lots of pastries daily, so stop by for a treat if you're in the neighborhood.
Sitwell's
324 Ludlow Ave. -
Cincinnati
This coffeehouse-meets-bar attracts quite the creative crowd. Poets, musicians, artists, scholars and teachers all find solace in the comfy cafe which often doubles as their workspace. For those feeling a bit less studious, Sitwell’s has a number of ways to pass the time — show off your backgammon skills, listen in on a poetry reading or take advantage of the free Wi-fi. They also showcase local artists and musicians. Need a little kick in your coffee? Sitwell’s has several different coffee and liqueur concoctions on the menu. Or if you need something a bit stiffer, there is a full bar with over 40 imported beers and wines. Sitwell’s also keeps bellies satisfied with salads, vegetarian dishes and favorites like the "Best BLT Ever" and the New York Egg Sandwich.
Veg Head
920 Loveland-Madeira Road - CincinnatiVegetarians and meat-eaters can find plenty to please at the Veg Head – and still feel righteous about saving the planet. Even the flatware is biodegradable. Meat and veggie dishes are prepared on separate grills, not that the black bean burgers made from scratch don't attract their share of meat-eaters. Old-timey furnishings are meant to evoke an all-natural era before agri-business heaped on the chemicals.
Amma's Kitchen
7633 Reading Road - CincinnatiThis vegetarian Indian restaurant is a favorite Indian place in the area with a popular lunch buffet, allowing you to try new items. When ordering off the menu, be sure to specify how hot you want your food.Indo-Chinese dishes as well as vegan options are available.
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